American Axle representatives on Tuesday said the UAW has rejected its wage and benefits offer that is “considerably” higher than market rates. The strike is in its eighth week, and the UAW proposal, offered on April 14, was met with a response that it is “still not market competitive” and that the plants may be closed and operations moved elsewhere if workers do not accept wage and benefit cuts.
American Axle pointed out the UAW proposed wages and benefits nearly doubling those the union had with Axle’s competitors in the United States. Axle specifically mentioned the UAW’s wage and benefit agreements that total close to $30 per hour with Dana, FormTech, Neapco and Bharat Forge, according to Automotive News. Last week’s tentative agreements between the UAW and Axle gave many hope that the strike would be over by as early as last weekend.
Since the initial walk-out on February 26, the strike has affected nearly 30 GM plants in North America. GM is responsible for 80 percent of its annual revenue.
